Fair Housing: Know Your Rights

What is Fair Housing?

Fair housing is the right to choose housing free from unlawful discrimination. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, more commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, ensures the protection of housing opportunity by prohibiting discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin (the federally protected classes). The Act was amended in 1988 to include familial status and disability status as protected classes.

If you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint online by accessing the Housing Discrimination Complaint portal. A United State Department of Housing and Urban Department fair housing specialist will determine if the alleged act violates the Fair Housing Act, and they will review your housing discrimination complaint. The specialist will contact you for any additional information needed to complete this review. If your complaint involves a possible violation of the Fair Housing Act, the specialist will assist you in filing an official housing discrimination complaint.

Need Help?HUD handles complaints about housing discrimination, bad landlords in federal housing and many other issues. For housing discrimination assistance and additional local resources contact HUD: